Jesus, Speaks to "Mountains And Hills,..Ravines And Valleys"

"....This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you...."  (Ezekiel 36:4, NIV)

This is one of my "favorite" Biblical passages.  If I may so say, one of the grandest in Holy Writ.  Man goes his own way, pursing his own plans, will not listen to, "the Sovereign Lord," Jesus; therefore, the Sovereign Lord speaks to topography, "mountains and hills,..ravines and valleys," i.e., The Land, and tells The Land that no matter man's rebellion, God will fulfill His purposes in The Land.  Now the more "spiritual" among us will say that Jesus does not care about "land."  Ezekiel 36 and so many other Biblical passages say otherwise. 

What occurred to me today was the "set-in-stone" purposes of Jesus Christ in the earth.  No matter what we witness in the news today, the global chaos, etc., no matter Burns' "the best-laid plans of mice and men," no matter the aggression of man, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars....For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom...," in and through it all, "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does his successive journeys run, His kingdom stretch from shore to shore till moons shall wax and wane no more."  King Jesus is moving history in His Plan, His purpose for the earth, the nations, for you and me.  Our text just further affirms, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,"------------ regardless of what man does, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." 

Ezekiel 36 takes you and me way beyond ourselves and any self imposed, restricted view of our lives and the world.  If you have never read Ezekiel 36, I encourage you to do so.  It is a grand passage, one which takes us to "the heights," one which reveals in a magnificent way the matchless grandeur of the Living Triune God.  I can imagine King Jesus standing on one of those mountains overlooking, "the hills,..the ravines and valleys,..the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered," and hear His Voice also speaking to you and me, little creatures, who were, "....desolate ruins," then heard Jesus' Good-Shepherd Voice, "No more 'desolate ruins,' no more, 'deserted towns that have been plundered....'  I am building My Church; I am building and restoring you, My child." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, what can I say?  Thank You.  Amen.
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* We hope you check out the latest News, Commentary at:        jhs58.blogspot.com
* Berlin/Bosnia Mission, May 1-20

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Yes, His "Perfect" Is For Our Best

"And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart."  (2 Chronicles 25:2, KJV)

I used the KJV because is seems to be the most accurate translation of our text.  Strong's indicates that the word which other versions translate as, "whole, wholeheartedly, loyal," is literally, "perfect."  In another passage, the word is translated, "was not wholly devoted to the Lord."  This is akin to 2 Kings 17:41, "Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols."  This has happened to all of us at one time or another in our lives.  And this is the key to local, national, and global chaos.

The word "perfect" has been diluted over the years.  No one wants to talk about perfection, because everyone loves to parrot just how imperfect we are.  "Perfect," has become to most something to avoid.   In the "Sermon on the Mount," however, Jesus says perfection is the objective of our Father for every citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, every member of the Church, "the household of faith."  One time a person complained to Ern Baxter that he was preaching perfection.  To which Baxter replied, "What do you want me to do, preach glorious imperfection?"  I suspect that the vast majority of people would respond, "Yes."
 
Our text speaks of a leader who was a sad commentary on many leaders today.  They do, "right in the sight of the Lord" (NASB), but there is something in them which is idolatrous, not totally surrendered to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom; it is the classic "heart" issue.  How one "remedies" this I'm not sure.  The objective, however, of our Lord Jesus Christ is unmistakable, "Be perfect, therefore, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."  Instead of some "mean" command beyond our reach, this tells me that the Living Triune God has nothing but the very "best" for you and me.  Jesus says, "My Father's house has many rooms (mansions); if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?"(NIV)  Every Word in the Bible, "the Words of God," tells the human race that everything and all things Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has for us is, as Genesis tells us, "very good."  You and I just need to work through our self-limiting prejudices, our excuses for our weaknesses and sin, and align ourselves, not with pop religion, but with, "The Word of God," Jesus Christ.  Read, study, obey what He commands and we will have the life He promises.  The principle of the Kingdom of God/Heaven is, "He did that which was right in the sight of God...with a perfect heart."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that what You hold before me seems "impossible."  But I thank You that, "with [You] all things are possible."  I desire to do, "that which [is] right in the sight of [You] with a perfect heart."  Amen. 
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* We really appreciate any prayers for our upcoming Spring Mission to Berlin/Bosnia.
* Important prophetic articles at:         jhs58.blogspot.com   

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"Harbored In Jesus"

"I am the door....I am the door....I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly....I am the good shepherd....I am the good shepherd....I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.  I am My Father are one." 
(From John 10)

Notice that you and I are in Jesus' and Father's hand, and no one or nothing will never ever have the power to get us out of that "position" in the Godhead.  Also, notice the repetition, "I am....I am....I am....I am...."   

In our text and elsewhere in the Scriptures, "I am," dominates Who Jesus Is.  Bible Theology is rooted in, "I Am, that I Am."  God did not tell Moses to tell the Hebrews, "I give, that I give," had sent him.  Yes, our God is the Giving God.  But what He gives is Himself in Jesus Christ.  God, Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit Is, "I Am."  When a person says to the Lord God, "I need," I think God's response is, "I Am, that I Am."  I need comfort, "I Am, that I Am."  I need provision, "I Am, that I Am."  The "list" is endless. 
 
Again, right now, right there (and here) is your/my, "Door," our, "Good Shepherd," our, "abundant Life," and no one will never ever be, "able to snatch [us] out of [Jesus'] (and) Father's hand." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You for all You are to me, my Ever, "very Present," Everything.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Even When We Can't "Understand," We Can "Follow"

"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'"  (John 8:12, From Today's Gospel Reading)

Maybe most would be better followers if they just went to fewer leadership conferences.

Notice, Jesus does not say here, "He who 'believes,'" or, "He who 'understands,'" but, "He who follows...."  If people are wrestling with doubt or "confusion," with an inability to comprehend and mentally understand what is going on in their lives, they can still follow.  Now the tendency for so many is to say to the Lord, "Where are we going?  What are you doing?  Why are my prayers not answered?  What is your will for my life?"  When a people do not have any answers to such questions, however, they can still follow.  Following does not require "understanding" or the ability to give "reasons."  Following just requires commitment/surrender.

I remember reading our text during my freshman year in the university.  I had been undergoing the most pressing challenge to my faith in Jesus since I was a young child.  What I came to see was that those who were challenging my commitment to Jesus were those who had surrendered their lives to, "walk in darkness."  Their authority was the reasoning of humanity, not the Word of God.  All of their arguments were based on what made "sense" to them.  A man who was probably a 5' 8", 155 lb. Middle Eastern Jew, "the carpenter's son," claiming to be, "The Light of the world," or, "the resurrection and the life," or, "he who has seen Me has seen the Father," or, "before Abraham was, I am," was just too much for their very, very limited minds to understand.  And maybe herein lies man's problem.  He tries to understand the non-understandable; hence, he "follows" himself.  I chose then, and choose now to follow.

In so many ways, I do not understand much more than they.  The key difference is that I embrace what/Whom I cannot fully understand.  I have chosen to follow, whether some understanding or no understanding accompanies my journey.  This decision insures that I, "will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life", Jesus.

Father, in Jesus' name, I embrace You and follow You.  I do not need to understand or even "know" where You are leading.  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2